• Garageband 10 Autotune
• Garageband Autotune Download
• Autotune Plugin For Garageband Mac

Despite the fact that GarageBand is a fairly complex DAW (especially given that it’s free), it can be easy to fall into the trap of creating music that sounds just like everyone else’s.

That’s because there are only a finite number of combinations of stock loops, software instruments, and drummer tracks!

The key to getting out of this rut is using free GarageBand plugins to spice up your tracks and make your productions stand out, and that’s exactly what you’re going to learn about here.

Autotune; Free Autotune Plugin Garageband; How To Use Auto-Tune (Pitch Correction) In Garageband. First things first. You need to know the key signature of the music. This should be the first step you make. If you want to know the key signature of the song, I just find the tonal center of the music, and then I play the notes of that scale. Autotune Plugin For Garageband. On iPhone and iPod Touch, tap Settings, then tap Track Controls. On iPad, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 7 Plus, tap Track Controls. Under Master Effects, adjust the Echo and Reverb sliders, or tap Master Effects to change the Echo and Reverb presets. In this beginner’s guide, i’ll show you how to use autotune in GarageBand for macOS. Free Garageband Autotune Plug-ins. Garageband Autotune Plugin. Auto Tune Evo Vst Free. Apple is giving new users a 90-day trial of Logic Pro X. If you’re interested in seeing what the next step up is like, now’s the time.

Before we get into it though, if you’re new to the software, you should first check out our GarageBand tutorial for a solid overview of Garageband.

Let’s dive in.

Does GarageBand Allow Plugins?

The short answer here is yes, it does allow the use of plugins. In fact, there are a couple of different kinds you can put into play:

• Stock plugins
• Free AU plugins

Be careful not to use plugins to mask a poorly edited track though.

Need to get your editing sorted?

Learn how to edit, cut and more tips in this song making tutorial using GarageBand.

Where Are GarageBand Plugins?

The easiest way to access plugins in the DAW is to double click on a track (or hit B), to bring up the Smart Control view.

Depending on the type of track you have selected, you may not see the Transform header at the top of the window, but you should see both Controls and EQ.

On software instruments, Controls gives you access to manipulate the various elements within a synth.

On an audio track, Controls will give access to a multi-effect display which includes Compression and EQ controls, as well as sends for reverb and ambience. The knobs assigned to the EQ controls manipulate the same plugin as in the EQ tab.

To activate, de-activate, or add new plugins, click the drop down menu:

Using GarageBand’s Stock Plugins

Apple borrowed a number of slick plugins from its bigger brother, Logic Pro X, filing them under the following groups:

• Amps and Pedals
• Compressor
• Delay
• Distortion
• Dynamics
• EQ
• Imaging
• Filter
• Modulation
• Pitch
• Reverb
• Specialized
• Utility

This might seem like a pretty overwhelming list, but don’t worry, you don’t need to master all of them straight away. Here are a few of the important one’s you’ll want to get your head around:

Compression

The stock compressor is pretty simple, with a no frills interface.

You have access to four controls:

• Threshold – determines the point at which the compressor kicks in
• Ratio – how much the signal is compressed once it passes the threshold
• Attack – how quickly the compressor reacts after the signal passes the threshold
• Gain – adjusts for any loss in perceived volume due to compression

Alternatively, you can use the simple one-knob interface under Controls. Turning up the amount knob here essentially lowers the threshold while applying automatic make-up gain depending on the level of compression.

EQ

This paragraphic EQ module is borrowed from Logic Pro X, and is available on every track under Smart Controls.

This is a solid equalizer with high and low shelves, high and low pass filters, and 4 parametric bell type EQ nodes.

GarageBand has a whopping 4 reverb plugins, giving you the ability to create space in a mix to your heart’s content, airy or eerie!

They all offer something a little different, most notably in the controls you have available. Space Designer is a simple three control reverb and a great starting place.

But if you need something more complex, we’d shoot for the PlatinumVerb.

Delay

Commonly used on guitars and vocals, delay can be a great way to add a little depth, dynamics, and interest to a mix.

You have access to 5 different delays, ranging from the simple Sample Delay to the complex Stereo Delay plugin.

Amps and Pedals

Amp Designer

One of the miracles of modern recording is the ability to simply plug your guitar into your Mac or iPad, and use free amp and pedal simulators.

Apple’s free DAW gives you access to the famed Amp Designer, offering no less than 26 amp models, which can be paired with any of the plugin’s 26 cabinets and mic’d with a selection of condenser, dynamic, and ribbon microphones.

There are some pretty sick presets included too.

Pedalboard

Any legit guitarist loves to stack a few pedals in front of their amp, whether that’s a subtle overdrive, or an array of modulation and delay effects.

Those recording guitar and bass direct into this epic DAW can enjoy the same luxury, thanks to an epic range of pedals in the Pedalboard plugin.

Don’t limit yourself to using these incredibly deep and versatile plugins only on guitar and bass though, they can be equally interesting on synth or drum parts!

How Do I Add Plugins To GarageBand?

You aren’t limited to just the stock plugins. Just like you can pick up a new outboard compressor or reverb and plug her into your studio, you can buy and download additional plugins as you see fit. This can be a sweet way to give yourself a little extra inspiration when needed.

Plus, there are some amazing free GarageBand plugins out there. Just do a Google search for “free vst plugins, vst plugins free, vsts free, or vst free” and you’ll get a ton of awesome results.

You’ll want to make sure they’re compatible first though. Apple uses the AU plugin protocol, as opposed to AAX or VST.

Unfortunately the term ‘VST’ has kind of become a catchall term for all types of plugins, which admittedly makes things confusing. Just make sure you select the AU option.

Once you’ve found something you like, installing them is pretty easy. Simply download the package and follow the installation instructions. This might involve having to drag a ‘Component’ file into your plugins folder. This is pretty straightforward.

From Finder, head to Macintosh HD>Library>Audio>Plug-Ins>Components, and drag the component file into this folder.

You’ll then need to shut GarageBand and reopen it, so it can rescan your computer. In some cases, you might need to restart your Mac altogether.

A Few Of Our Favourite Free Plugins

There are a bunch of great free plugins for GarageBand, but there are a couple that we seriously love, and want to share with you all.

Abletunes have three free plugins known as Abletunes Knobs. They are simple one-knob plugins, each with a different twist:

• Drive – distortion unit
• Attack – transient designer
• Space – reverb

iZotope is an all-time favourite plugin manufacturer for sound engineers the world over. Their free Vocal Doubler plugin is an epic way to add a bit of thickness to a vocal melody.

Need a bit more? How about a lot more? Melda Production offers a sweet plugin bundle called MFreeFXBundle, which is a set of 37 amazing plugins, from analyzers to saturation to delays.

TX16Wx Software Sampler is a pretty comprehensive tool, and one worth downloading for anyone wanting to learn how to sample in GarageBand.

Conclusion

From simple one-knob compressors to the complexity of Amp Designer, GarageBand’s stock plugins can take you pretty damn far. And with the wide range of free plugins available, you can go even further.

Got a free plugin you really like using? Share it below.

Here’s the complete list of the best free autotune VST plugins updated for 2021:

For more software goodies, check out our huge list of 250 free vst plugins.

1. Graillon 2 – Best Free Autotune Plugin (Auburn Sounds)

Graillon 2 is hands down the best free autotune VST on the market.

Here’s why:

It’s a simple, efficient & easy to use autotune plugin that comes in either VST or AU formats, meaning you can use it on both Mac & Windows.

Not only has it got a beautiful GUI that you’d see on most paid plugins, but the results it produces are nothing short of phenomenal – especially as it’s free and for most autotune plugins you are paying above $100.

With Graillon 2, autotune is as simple as putting the plugin on your audio track & turning on the ‘pitch correction’ module. There are also a tonne of controls for Graillon 2 that you can use to effortlessly fine tune your vocal sound further.

For instance, if you wanted more accurate results, you could lock Graillon 2 to a particular set of notes, or scale. You could also use the formant shifting to preserve the original tone of your performance, while still transposing it.

You can get both natural and artificial results out of Graillon 2 &, thanks to the wide range of controls, the creative possibilities are endless.

With Graillon you can Bitcrush, alter the Dry/Wet, change the pitch, preserve the formants, lock to a key & even have a tonne of fun with Pitch-Tracking modulation (which is unique to Graillon).

Whether you want to make throat like, robotic sounds, enrich a vocal performance, or even use it for sound design on instruments – Graillon 2 can do it all.

To get your hands on Graillon 2’s pitch correction VST, just head to the Auburn Sounds website & download the free edition!

2. VOLOCO – The Best for Creativity

Voloco is 2nd on the list because of it’s sheer simplicity & wide range of incredible sounding presets, that are useful in any situation.

You can choose from 8bit, Daft Punk style vocals & a tonne of other wicked sounding presets that will spice up your audio.

Unlike the other free autotune plugins, Voloco adds a bit more than just autotune to your audio signal. For instance, the Daft Punk & 8bit modes add LFO volume modulation & gate like effects to your vocals – instantly making them sound awesome.

Originally Voloco was only available on iPhone & Android, but now you can download it as a VST or AU pitch correction plugin for Windows or Mac.

Voloco has been designed specifically for that Cher/T-Pain like sound, & is better used as a creative tool, rather than to clean up your vocalists takes.

Like with the other plugins on this list, you can lock to a scale, change the key from major to minor & also change the amount by which Voloco pitch corrects your audio (kinda like a dry/wet control).

Check out this wicked video of the mobile version below (the plugin has a similar capability).

It’s not the best free autotune VST, but Voloco is definitely worth downloading for creative purposes, rather than clinical mixing alterations.

You can download it from the Voloco website.

3. MAutoPitch Autotune (MeldaProduction)

MAutoPitch is a pitch correction plugin by MeldaProduction, that just had to be on our list.

Check out our full, in-depth review of MAutoPitch for a bigger overview of why it’s so good.

Even though we’ve placed it 3rd, don’t let that fool you. MAutoPitch is an extremely capable autotune VST plugin, offering almost the exact same pitch correction features as Graillon 2, but with a bit extra included.

These extra tools can make it a slightly better choice for ease of mixing, as it includes an automatic gain control, limiter & stereo width adjustment. But, it’s a pain to install.

MAutoPitch comes as part of a free suite that contains 37 separate effects, analyzers, eq’s & a load more. Although you’re probably thinking “that’s awesome! more free plugins!”, it’s an annoying process to remove all of the bloat that you don’t want.

It also slows down download time.

If you do want the full suite, a lot of the MeldaProduction range are extremely good free plugins that can help improve your mixes. But, a lot of the time, having that many plugins, just gets in the way of what you’re supposed to be doing – making music.

MAutoPitch, however sits in that very sweet spot of being extremely simple to use, while not restricting any essential features & sounding great.

It has everything you’d need & should expect in a free autotune plugin, with options to lock to a certain scale, & automatic pitch detector, Dry/Wet knob, formant shifting, a preserve formants knob and more.

Formants shifting is a pretty wicked feature that MAutoPitch has over Graillon 2. By shifting the formants, you can make your sound deeper & more masculine or the other way around. If you alter this too much though, it will sound plain awful.

With everything considered, MAutoPitch is a great pick up for people looking for a free pitch correction plugin that’s simple to use & has an intuitive GUI.

You can use MAutoPitch in AU or VST formats, meaning that it’s both Mac and PC compatible.

Pick it up this free pitch correction device, from MeldaProduction’s website as part of their 37 free creative FX plugins pack.

4. GSnap

This was the first pitch correction tool to be offered as freeware to producers & audio engineers out there.

GSnap is an extremely clever auto tune VST plugin that has the unique ability of being able to ‘snap’ to MIDI that is fed into it.

What does that mean?

Imagine a scenario where you want to auto tune the vocalist, but you’re not sure what key you need to be locked into, or when you choose a scale – it just sounds a bit off.

Here, you can use the MIDI from another element in the track.

So, for instance, take the synth line, the chord data, or anything else & GSnap will tune your vocals to the notes that are being played in that section.

It also works on any other piece of audio that you want to tune.

GSnap has a pretty simple interface & is easy to use + understand. Unlike the other free autotune plugins on this list, it shows you how much it’s correcting the notes by. This is shown in red & green.

Red = orginal

Green = adjusted

But unfortunately, it doesn’t have any option for formant shifting, or preserving the quality through formants. This is something that is found in both Graillon & MAutoPitch.

Garageband 10 Autotune

One thing that GSnap does have, that the others don’t, is a vibrato control. This can be pretty cool if used correctly in certain situations.

GSnap is a great pitch correction VST to try out and add to your collection. It’s available to use in VST formats on the GVST website.

5. X42 Autotune

X42 Autotune is a freeware VST plugin that has been based on the ZITA-AT1, which is a linux based autotune plugin.

X42 brings this free plugin from linux to VST and AU format, allowing you to use it on a Windows or a Mac machine for you productions.

The main difference between the X42 and the other plugins listed above, is that it’s better used in a situation where you need a bit of fine tuning, rather than a full Cher-like robotic sounding voice.

It has most of the controls you’d expect on a free version of autotune, but comes with some added benefits over the ones above (also some drawbacks we’ll explain later).

Added features include:

• Bias – allows your vocal to go off-tune more than usual. This is helpful when you don’t necessarily want the vocal to snap exactly to your MIDI input & make it sound more natural.
• Offset – adds an offset -2 or +2 semitones on the pitch correction. This means the vocal can go out a few semitones.
• Filter – sets the amount of smoothing on the autotune.

XS42 also has a nice pitch error meter, that shows you how the vocal is reacting with the autotune & includes a MIDI input, so you can lock vocal takes to a specific scale.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the ability to shift formants or preserve them (like with the other free plugins) & the interface isn’t as nice.

However, if you want light, natural autotune – this does a great job.

You can download this free pitch correction tool over on X42’s website.

6. Autotalent

Autotalent is a free autotune VST plugin that was created by Tom Baran, which has a pretty comical name & tagline “pop music in a can”.

It includes pretty much everything you’d expect it in a pitch correction plugin, and most of the features found in the previously listed autotune plugins on this list.

However, Autotalent is slightly worse than the others because it can only be used to process mono signals. When stereo is selected, it just duplicates the same setting from the left channel into the right channel.

You can use Autotalent for Cher & T-Pain like effects, to change the key your melody is written in, from Major to Minor or vice versa, make your voice sound robotic using chiptune, to add vibrato and more.

The GUI is pretty basic and honestly doesn’t look the best. The usability of the plugin is also flawed as opposed to the others on this list. Autotalent still produces that autotune sound you’re looking for extremely well – it’s just not as good as the above.

Autotalent is available to download for Windows & Mac from the VSTFREE website.

It was also originally only available for Linux, and can be found over on Tom Baran’s website.

7. BeatLab Autotune (Ableton)

Don’t let this being low on our list fool you. The only reason we included it lower is because of it’s lack of compatibility for any other DAW than Ableton.

It’s a simple Autotune plugin that can give some incredible results.

It has all the features you’d expect like, being able to lock to a scale, having a dry/wet control & amount knob & correction settings.

The one drawback of using this is, it might be a bit too basic if you’re looking for something to have full control over.

BeatLab’s autotune comes as part of a free Max4Live pack, which you can download on Ableton’s website.

It’s a pack of pitch & time machines that comes with a range of other wicked plugins that you can use creatively for sound design.

Budget Autotune VST Plugin Recommendations

Garageband Autotune Download

Although free autotune VSTs are great, sometimes they just don’t cut it, & can’t give you the results you want without introducing audio artefacts, & a load of other stuff you don’t want in your recordings.

In this instance, it’s better to look at some alternatives to those eye watering free autotune devices.

Here are some budget options to take a look at:

1. Antares AutoTune Access (basic version of their pro range)
2. Soundtoy’s Little Alterboy (creative autotune)
3. Waves OVox (vocal synth)

What Is Autotune Used For?

It’s for people who can’t sing…

Just joking.

Autotune is essentially live pitch correction for an audio signal of your choice. It’s commonly used on vocals to get a pitch perfect sound, but can be used on a number of instruments, melodies or chords.

It’s mostly a mixing tool that helps to even out recordings that aren’t entirely in key, by pitch shifting them in real-time.

You’ve probably heard autotune used in most Hip Hop & Trap chart toppers. This is the most common use for autotune, but isn’t the only area you will see it getting used.

It might come as a shock to you, but pitch correction is an extremely useful engineering tool for even the best singers, & is used in a lot more music genres than you think.

“Quite frankly, [use of Auto-Tune] happens on almost all vocal performances you hear on the radio”.
(Marco Alpert, Antares Audio Vice President)

Autotune Plugin For Garageband Mac

You can find autotune being used on Indie music, Rock, RnB, Pop and so many other genres, because it’s an extremely useful tool. When a vocalist gives an incredible performance emotionally, but the pitch just isn’t perfect, using autotune can ‘save’ the performance from sounding out of key, and keep that much needed emotion in.

In short?

Autotune is used to put out of key performances in the right key, by pitch shifting in real-time.

It’s an audio processor that was originally introduced in 1997 by Antares, & was exclusive to their Auto-Tune Pro plugin.

Since the advancement of technology, & the improvement of audio plugins, you can now get some pretty awesome free versions of autotune VSTs.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the essential list of the best free autotune plugins updated for 2021:

Whatever you need autotune for, this article is a great place to start. It covers a range of awesome, free autotune VST plugins that you can use in your mix sessions or for creative sound design.

Whoever you are, we’re certain there’ll be an autotune plugin you’ll grow to love with time & lots of affection.